Warning means for grade crossings



WARNING MEANS FOR GRADE CROSSINGS ed Sept. 6, 192,4 n A- WTNESSESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1-.

W. T. MAXWELL WARNING MEANS FOR GRADE CROSSINGS Aug" 11, 1925. 1,549,013

Filed Sept. 6, 1924 4 sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aug. 11, 1925.

1,549,013 W. T. MAXWELL WARNING MEANS FO R GRADE CROSSINGS Filed Sept; 6, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT'QR WITN ESSES 5 Aug. 11, 1925.

1,549,013 w. T. MAXWELL WARNING MEANS FOR GRADE CROSSINGS Filed Sept. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WITNESSESS INVENTOR lt atented FVARNING- 1513. 3.16 S CRGSSINGS.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, W71 .r T. lllainvnnr. a citizen oil the United States and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania have invented a new and useful Improvement in lVurning cans for Grade Crossings ot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signals and particularly to a signaling apparatus use in indicating to the driver oi. a vehicle over a highway that a railroad crossing or other dangerous Zone is being 211 :oaclied.

T he object of the invention is inform or warn the operamr of a vehicle of the proximity of danger zone in the road ahead, such as railroad crossings so that it may be approached with caution the warning being imparted in such manner li'aculties of hearing seeing as to atl'ect the and feeling.

it. is a special object to provide a construction of the character referrer to which is simple strong and durable, which will not easily get out of order, and whiei can be readily installed at a nominal cost.

it is a special object to provide as apart ot the warning means an upper. "us which will initially give a plurality of cessive distinctive audible signals, such ing autoi'iuitically produced by the passage of the wheels of the vehicle without requiring any special effort or attention on the part of the driver which audible signals will be properl "followed by the setting up of a series of distinctive rapid vibraiions or he vehicle which in turn will be tollowed by sual indication directly in the. road bed itself so that it is practically impossible of escapin the attention of the d: 'ver and of such character as to make the average driver fearful of crossing the portion of the road bed immediately in advance at a high speed.

'L"hcse and other objects of the invention will more fully appear when talren in conjunction with the following description and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, dlz .nmatic plan view showing portion or a highway including a railroad crossing and with the invention installed. in connection therewii'h; Fig. 2 a schematic view in section taken longitudinally of the road bed and illustrating the various parts PENN"SZLVANIA, srsrr recur or ASSIGNOR OF 'PITJSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEVEN 6, 1924. Serial N0. 736,298.

shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 apla-n View showing the constr Fig. 5 an enlarged fragmentary plan view' illustrating the means employed for locking the extrenntles of the resounding plates to their supporting members; Fig. 6 a fraginentary detailed view, taken substantially on the line VlVl of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 a tragn'ientary detailed view taken substantially on the line Vll-VH of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 a fragmentary detailed view illustrating-a inooiiied form of the connecting means for anchoring the resounding plates to their supports; Fig. 9 a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating another embodiment or" the audible signaling apparatus; Fig. 10 a detailed-view, in plan illustrating the means for loosely anchoring the resounding plates of Fig. 9 to their supports; Fig. 11 a transverse vrtical section taken through the embodiment shown in Fig. Fig. 12 an'enlarg d detailed view showing the cooperation with one of the specially constructed locking bolts for anchoring the resounding plates in position; Fig. 18 a view similar to L 9 illustrating still another modified embodiment of the audible signaling apparatus; Fig. 14 a transverse vertical section tal'; n substantially on the line XlVXlV o'l ig. 13; Fig. 15 a fragn'ientary view taken substantially on the line XV-XV of Fig. 13; l ig. 16 a view similar to Fig. 13 illustrating a form of the audible signaling apparatus which may be used for narrow highways; Fig. 1'? a detailed view of a blank from which the T-member employed in connection with the resounding plates may be formed; Fig. 18 the form of T- meinber constructed from the blank illustrated in Fig. 17; Fig. 19 a fragmentary plan view of a still further modification of the invention; Fig. 20 a vertical sectional view taken on line XXXX of Fig. 19; and Fig. :2]. a sectional view taken on the XXI-XXI of Fig. 20. 'l-hcd of a highway or street is inhe draw' generally at l, which n. d tracks 2 indicative the drivers of vehicles approaching the tracks from either direction. Interposed between the apparatus 3 and the tracks 2, at both sides thereof, are a plurality of spaced corrugations 4. The corrugations t are preferably spaced approximately six feet apart and may consist of small gauge rails, such as indicated in the drawings, embedded in the road-bed with the heads of the rails projecting slightly thereabove. It is to be understood, hou ever, that these corrugations may be made in many different ways, and that the employment of the rails is intended merely as illustrative of one embodiment. Interposed between the corrugations 4 and the tracks, and at a suitable distance from both the corrugations and the tracks, is a specially formed portion 5 in the road-bed, serving as a visual signal or warning instrumentality. Preferably, the portion 5 consists of a special configuration in the road-- bed itself in the nature of a depression of substantial width and considerable depth which extends completely across the full width of the roadway, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The depression 5 may extend either parallel with the tracks 2, as shown in the full lines in said figure, or at any angle thereto as indicated by the dotted lines 5'. The depression 5 or 5, being formed directly in and as a part of the road-bed is clearly and necessarily apparent to the driver of the vehicle, and is purposely fashioned in such dimensions as to naturally cause the average normal driver to considerably reduce his speed upon approaching the crossing 2 at a high speed. It is contemplated. placing the portion 5 approximately one hundred feet from the corrugations 4 and at about forty feet from the tracks 2. Applicant however does not limit the invention to any special distances since the contour of the roadway in the region of the crossings may require considerable variations from the distances named. Instead of forming the portions 5 and 5 as a depression, the surface of the road-bed may be raised atthese points in the manner indicated by the dotted lines at 6 in Fig. 2. iVhether formed as a. depression or as a raised portion, the dimensions are such as to cause a driver to slacken his speed when approaching the crossing at a high rate.

Not only does the portion 5 or 5 extend the full width of the roadway, but this is also true of the portions forming the audible signaling apparatus 3 and the transversely extending corrugations l, these parts in every instance extending substantially the full width of the roadway, so that they must necessarily be traversed by vehicles traveling the highway in either direction, and regardless of their position between the sides of the road.

The detailed structure of the apparatus comprising the audible signal 3 is shown in Figs. 3 to T of the drawings. This apparatus comprises a pair of spaced supports extending transversely of the roadway, and preferably consists of a pair of rails 8, 8 embedded in the body of the road-bed with the heads of the rails extending slightly above the upper surface of the road-bed. ltiounted and resting directly upon the heads of the rails are a pair of similarly constructed resounding metal plates 9 and 9, the plate 9 extending from one side of the roadway and terminating at its central point, while the plate 9 likewise extends from the opposite side of the roadway to its central point.

The plates 9 and .3 at their ends adjacent the sides of the roadway are provided with struck up tongues 10, 10 which are adapted to extend below and partially embrace the heads of the rails at the extremities thereof. For this purpose, the ends of the rails have the web and base portion cut away leaving merely an extension 11 formed by the head of the rail, in the manner clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Each of the outer corners of the two plates 9 and 9 are formed in this manner, with the tongues '10 and 10 thereof extending in opposite directions so that the positioning of the tongues between the rails 8 and 8 will serve as a means to limit bodily movement of the plate longitudinally of the roadway.

lVith the construction described, it is apparent that the tongues 10 and 10 may be shaped in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings prior to the placing of the plates in operative position upon the rail, it being merely necessary to place the plates upon the rail with the tongues lying slightly beyond the ends 11 thereof, and then move the plates so as to permit the extensions 11 to extend within the space between the ends of the tongues and the body of the -plates, and sliding the plates towards each other so as to abut at the central portion of the roadway.

In order to permit free movement of the plates with respect to their supporting rails, the tongues 10 and 10 are so disposed as to permit both a slight movement of the plates from one rail towards the other, and to allow a substantial rise and fall of the plates upon the rails, for a purpose to be subsequently described, and in order to enhance the movement of the plates due to the passage of vehicles thereover, the plates are of slightly greater width than the distance between the ails 8 and 8 so as to provide marginal portions l2, 12 extending beyond the rails.

The contiguous ends of the plates 9 and 9 at the center of the roadway are provided with the respective openings 13, 13 extending therethrough at a point beyond the rails. For convenience of description, the openma pie in gs through the plate 9 are indicated by the niuneral 13 while the corresponding openings at either side of the plate 9 are d signated by the numeral A band or strip 5 i l originally tl-shapcd and in the 'iOI'Dl of a staple is adapted to have the l'inhs thereof project through the respective openings 18 and 13, the QIllil'Qli'lltiC-ES oil which after threading through the plates may then he turned over in the manner shown so as to e eetivcly anchor the i .1 together for the purpose oi preventin; due separation thereof. The plates nected in this manner at the points or: endin 15 beyond both the rails 8 and 8.

nect-ion allorded the K hands is a hin 'ed one ritl ODOU. ll iv between the bands and ice the openings to provide snh'icient movement between the parts to enable both plates to tunction in the desired n'ianner irrespective of the functioning of the other while at the same tin'ie efili'ectively preventing bodily movement of the plates towards the sides oi" the roadway.

ln order to guard inent oi? the contiguous an d 9 l ongit u di nail plurality of depending provided. Pretl ",i)l"$ 1O '30 7 i- I: i VlLtQil :ror each or M ich is spaced a slight 8 e cor responcing 1.1., 8 lingers may merely consist oi pins held within u A u peinngs in the plates, with the upper ends he pins lyn their with the upper surfilatos 4e o luced j i i L the s or the plates by the wheels of vehicles p. 'ing' thereover. l' owever. the use of in l rts 1s not absolutely neces, v, since t 1e einplo n'lent of suitable 1' metal for the resounding l- 1 1 plates aloi. pixrperlv constructed, Wlll produce audible signals 0: considerable 1n- 1 n'i- 7.

Gilalc} ln operation, whenver a vehicle apother equivalent tra clts 2. or

zone.

t necessarily travthe audible n the coriy :rori'ied porl" .t-Ibllll oe. s soon tee wl x? t io vehicle strike afl inal er ''ensio l2, extending eortino' rails, the resounding o bet ily rocl: upon one of 1ts l and consequently be lifted above the remaining support, one of the supporting rails serving as t tulcrnin i S soon as the wheel. of the Vellll .c cont the plate has vnnced ov r the supporting fulcrum thus the plate iorcibly thrown downpon its o -.r sup-porting rail, thus to a pronounced audible signal. "i the wheel still further advances in a position just about to leave I is rocked in a shnila ina-nner the opposite rail a." a fulcrum with a conse uent repetition of the audible signal described. During the passage of the wheels of t 1e vehicle, it is apparent that two distinct audihle signals will be given, and two additional audible signals "l likewise occur during passage of the rear were ls. During the rocking of the resoundplates in the manner set forth, the

i0 and 10 prevent undue lifting movement or" the sides oi the plate, in awhich viil be apparent from an inilitlllilCl 3 net specti' 1 of Jig. of the drawings, and the depending heads or i ers it"; will function to maintain the contiguous ends of the two p er and 9 in prover operative position l" porting rails. and the eration oi the plate espect to the s Assuming a vehicle to he apJ aching the crossing 2, upon traversing the sign 111g apparatus 3, a CllStlLCt audible s a will therefore he first received. This he followed by a distinctive vibration vehicle due to the passage ov r the c tions 1, and immediately following J hearing or of igit. Due to the special coi'istruction of 'he portions oi the apparatus for giving the nails, wiich affect the diFezent faculties of the driver, each of the signals iron is distinctive in character, an t the significance thereol has been once understood, will effectively prevent the approach oi vehicles to dangerous zones without adequate warning.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings has been illustrated an alternative method of loosely hut permanently anchmng the resounding plans to the support 1g rails, adjacent the sides of the roadway. In other words, a method of attaching the plates by a convenient substitute for the struck up tongues 10 and 10. In this form, the projecting extremity 11 of the supporting rail is provided with an opening 20 extending therethrough. A bolt 21 is projected through a suitable aperture in the plate and through the opening 20 with the head 21 of the bolt resting upon the upper surface of the plate and the nut 21 positioned a substantial distance below the extension 11. In order to provide for the necessary relative movement between the plate and the re maining parts, the diameter of the body of the bolt is considerably less than the opening 20 so that the plates may freely rock upon their supports in the manner pre viously described.

In Figs. 9 to 12 is illustrated another embodiment of means for conveniently sup porting the resounding plates. In this embodiment, the supports for the plates preferably comprise a pair of spaced supporting rails 30 and 30 embedded directly in the road-bed flush with the upper surface thereof, with an interposed casting with a central raised portion connected thereto, and upon which the plates directly rest. The casting provided at the center of the roadway is illustrated in plan in Fig. 9, and in transverse section in Fig. 11, being connected at its opposite ends to the rails 30 and 30 as by the bolts 31 and 31, respectively. The casting consists of a web portion 32, an upper flanged portion 33 extending in opposite directions from the web 32, and a flanged base portion 3%, likewise extending in opposite directions from the web. The upper flanged portion 33 is convex and at its highest point which extends slightly above the level of the road-bed is provided with elongated slots through which an elongated extremity of a fastening device, such as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawing, may be projected.

The castings employed at the extremities of the plates adjacent the opposite sides of the roadway are similar in every respect to the one just described with the exception that the top and base flanges extend from the web portion in but a single direction. The construction thereof is readily apparent from Fig. 9 of the drawings the castings at the ends of the plates 9 and 9 being indicated at 35 and 35, respectively.

The resounding plates in this embodiment need not extend laterally beyond the rails 30 and 30, but may terminate coincident there-with in the manner illustrated in Fig. 11.

The opposite ends of each plate are loosely but permanently mounted upon and anchored to the supports provided by the central and end castings in a similar manner and it will therefore be necessary to describe in detail but one of these fastenings. The plate is provided with an elongated opening 36 extending completely therethrough which is substantially rectangular in shape, as will from I 2;. 9 of the drawings, and corresponding in size and shape to the underlying slots or openings extending through the top flanges of the casting. The opening in the plate is countersunk intermediate its ends at the point indicated at 37 so as to receive therein the head 38 of a specially formed fastening bolt, the body of the bolt 39 being cylindrical in shape, and the lower end thereof being provided with the elongated rectangular portion 40 which is adapted to be passed both through the elongated po: tion 36 of the opening in the plate and through the elongated openings in the castings. Fig. 12 illustrates the method of cooperation of the head 38 with the countersunk portion of the opening in the resounding plate. and the position which the parts assume when the fastening bolt has been inserted in place and moved into a position to lock the plates to the castings as shown in Fig. 11.

In this embodiment, the resounding plates are merely placed in the relative positions shown in Fig. 9, so as to bring the apertures in the plates into registry with the openings in the underlying supporting castings, the lower end 10 of the fastening bolt is then projected through the elongated portion of the opening in the plate and through the opening in the casting, and subsequently turned so as to bring the portion 40 into the position shown in Fig. 11. The portion 40 lies sufiiciently below the top flanges of the casting. and the size of the opening through the casting is sufficient to permit free movement of the plate after the parts have been assembled.

The operation of this form will be readily apparent from an inspection of the drawings. The wheels of the vehicle first contact one edge of the resounding plate, rocking it about the fulcrum provided by the raised central portion of the supporting casting thus effectively striking one of the rails. and raising the plate away from the remaining rail. Upon the passage of the vehicle over the fulcrum thus provided the opposite rail is caused to be struck by the plate giving rise to successive audible signals similar to the ones described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 to 8.

In Figs. 13 to 15 another means for operatively connecting the plates 9 and 9 at their contiguous ends has been illustrated. This means consists of a connecting device Tshaped in cross section, comprising a depending web 4L0 which is adapted to extend downwardly within the space provided between the plates, and with a head portion 41 adapted to lie immediately upon the upper surface of the plate. The ends of the web 40 are cut away in the manner indicated at 42 a support clearl extre 'ties beyond the downwar l.. and 4-3 so as parts in prep The plates as cooperate with the 8 in the .cr

the manner .1 nos 10 and the ends of 10 the rails. hen projected so -i as to he between toe contiguous was or the rez-ioundnip plates. and with the cut away J 4 i l 4 portions en tne rails as the hea l r The coop... the rails 8 and o vents undue nnwement r tudinally of the rozulwm tion of he plates while mitting' the necessary movenien the production of the audible sired.

In Fig. 16 has been lllSi1l'21't9.(l a form of the invention particula use in connection with r In this form, there is but 9 which is adapted to rest supported by the rails 8 mshioned all respects similar to those creviously described. Each corner of the plate f is vided with a costruction corresponding; the corner construction of the plates shown in l 3, with the exception that in the initial fabrication of the plate. the tongues corresponding to 10 and it) -e. bent domiwardly throughout substantially their entire extent so as to project between the pport ing rails when the plate s first placc thereon. After the plates have been placed noon the rails, these tongues may then be forcibly bent so as to partially emb ace the redu extremities of the rails and thus locl: t e plate loosely but permanently thereto in a manner corresponding identically with that illustrated in 1 of the drawings.

Instead of forming the central f stening means for locking; the plates together in the manner shown in Figs. 13 to 15. the T-shaped member may be formed in the manner shown in Figs 17 and18. 17 shows a. sheet metal blank or a blank formed of other suitable material capable of being; folded upon itself in the manner illustrated in 18. The blank is provided with the apertures 51 at the several points indicated in Fig. 17, and is first bodily bent upon itself along an axis indicated by the line 52. thus forming); the web portion 53. shown in 18, and its side portions 54:, 541- are afterwards bent laterally outwards so as to form the head portion of the connecting member. It is to be understood that the s a ail! cs to perm it S'lg als deconstruction formed as in Figs. 17 and 18 is intend d merely to replace the connecting member shown in Figs. 13 to 15. The cars 55 and 55 on the blank 51 serve to form portions which project slightly outwardly at the lower ends of the web 58 for engagement below the heads of the supporting rails, similar to the cut away portions -12 and 42 in the form illustrated in Fig. let.

There is illustrated in Figs. 19 to 21 an embodiment which can be installed with very little expense and without materially disrupting the road-bed at the point of installation. In this form, preferably anchoring portions 60 and 60 made of concrete are provided adjacent the opposite sides of the roadway, and in case the roadway is bordered by raised curbs, parts of the curbs may be broken away to provide spaces for the anchoring portions. The opposite ends of a metallic support 8 are anchored in portions 60 and 60, as by means of the embedded pins 61 and 61, respectively. The support 8 is in the form of a flat metal bar which lies directly upon the upper surface of the road-bed and extends the full width thereof. The bar 8 may also be anchored to the road-bed a point intermediate its ends at 61", if desired.

A similar supporting bar 8 is spaced from the bar 8 and anchored in like fashion by means of the pins 62 62 and 62".

Resting); directly upon the supporting bars, and loosely but permanently attached thereto, are met 1c resounding plates designated by the reference characters 9 and 9% one being placed at either side of the center of the road way with the first described embodiments.

Both of the resounding plates loosely attached to the supporting bars by means of bolts such as shown 63, one of these 1 colts being preferably located near each corner of the plates. The heads of the bolts rest upon the upper surface of the plates, the bodies thereof pass loosely through suitable sized apertures in the supporting; bars. and the nuts 6-icarried at the lower ends of the bolts are spaced somewhat below the bars so as to permit the necessary free movement of the plates to assure their intended operation. The nuts may be held agaist removal by cotter pins or equivalent devices if desired.

In order to permit unobstructed movement of the bolts and nuts after installation of the plates. the portions of the road-bed immediately adjacent and underlying the bolts are removed as indicated at 65 in Fig. 21 to provide recesses receiving them.

As in several of the proceeding forms. the marginal edges 66, 65 of the plates extend somewhat beyond the supports, and are preferably bent slightly downwards as illustrated in Fig. 21 so as to be more readily traversed by the wheels of the passing vehicle.

This form of the invention is preferably installed by first assembling the resounding plates and their supporting bars. These parts as a unit are then placed in operative position as indicated in the drawingsfthe recesses 65 having been previously made in the road-bed to receive the lower ends of the bolts and the nuts 64. The concrete anchoring portions may then be made with the extremities of the supporting bars embedded in place. This method of installation is very simple, inexpensive and practical, leaving all of the parts securely fastened in operative position.

The operation of this embodiment will be obvious from the previous description. As the wheels of the vehicle ride either upwardly on one margin towards the center of the plate or downwardly over the other margin in leaving the plate, the same will be rocked bodily about the supporting bars as fulcrums resulting in the production of audible signals due to the falling of the resounding plates upon their supports, similarly to the functioning of the previously described forms of the invention. Although the plates are mounted sufliciently loosely to permit the necessary free movement thereof required, the bolts both limit the degree of rocking movement and pre vent displacement of the plates from their supports, and as clearly shown in the drawings the margins 66, 66 are positioned a suitable distance above the surface of the roadbed to permit movement of the plate within the limits defined by the spacing of the nuts 64: below the supporting bar's.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, applicant has illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is obvious, however, that various changes in structural details as well as in the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore not intended to limit the invention beyond that particularly defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A signaling apparatus for warning drivers upon approaching danger zones of a highway, comprising a support, a resounding plate loosely but permanently mounted upon said support for relative movement thereto, said plate being disposed so as to be necessarily traversed by a vehicle passing over the road bed.

2. A signaling apparatus for warning drivers upon approaching danger zones of a highway, comprising a support, a resounding plate loosely but permanently mounted on said support and capable of relative movement with respect to the support, said plate being disposed so as to normally lie slightly above the level of the road bed and directly in the path of travel of a vehicle using the highway and adapti d to be traversed by the wheels of vehicles passing thereover.

3. A signaling apparatus for warning drivers upon approaching danger zones of a highway, comprising a support, a metallic resounding plate loosely but permanently fixed to said support and capable of rocking movement with respect to the support, said plate being positioned directly in the path of travel of vehicles using the highway so as to be necessarily traversed thereby, the striking of the plate by the wheels of a passing vehicle producing rockin g movement of the plate whereby to set up audible rcverberations. I

4. A signaling apparatus for warning drivers upon approaching danger zones of a highway, comprising a support, a metallic resounding plate loosely but permanently fixed to said support and capable of rocking movement with respect to the support, said plate being disposed directly in the path of travel of vehicles using the highway, and normally positioned slightly above the level of the road bed whereby the passage of the wheels of a vehicle over the plate will set up rocking movementthereof and produce a distinctive audible signal.

5. A device for warning vehicle drivers of approach to a danger zone, comprising a support-located in the roadway and extending transversely thereof, and a plate mounted on said support in a manner to be rocked when a vehicle passes over the same and so arranged relative to the support as to strike the latter when rocked and thereby produce an audible sound.

I11 testimony whereof, I sign my name.

WILLIAM T. MAXWELL.

Witness:

EDWIN O. J OHNS. 

